Abstract: A block and bar chain of the trolley conveyor type includes a center link having U-shaped bushing inserts at the ends of the link. The inserts with the center link are respectively turnable on the pins; the center link is pivotable on either insert about a separate axis normal to that of the pins. The improved double flexure of the chain reduces the stress in the chain parts comprising the joint and in turn allows the center link and the inserts in particular to be of a molded plastic construction of the required configuration. The inserts have pivot and retaining means and their plastic construction permits their "snap-in" assembly.

Abstract: A sprocket for use with positive drive belts of the type with oppositely facing curvilinear driving surfaces, the sprocket having improved symmetrical teeth with a cross-section profile defined by axially oriented, oppositely facing driving surface portions that extend from the top land of the tooth at an angle of about 15 degrees or less to the sprocket tooth, each driving surface of the sprocket tooth blending into an oppositely facing oblique surface at an angle of about 150 to about 170 degrees that provides a positive clearance between the sprocket tooth and side portions of a meshing belt tooth to direct egress of material away from the sprocket, the oblique surfaces define a sprocket tooth base that is wider than the sprocket tooth top land and bottom land portions between sprocket teeth providing positive clearance between the bottom land portions and belt tooth tips.

Abstract: An automatic belt tightener for use in a belt drive mechanism for transmitting torque between a driving rotatable member and a driven rotatable member through a flat drive belt. Included is a roller assembly pivotable about the driving member and including a first, second and third roller, the driving member and the three rollers each having outside diameter grooves formed respectively by a pair of flanges, reduced interior diameters, and having their longitudinal axes of rotation parallel and spaced a fixed distance apart during operation of the mechanism. The flanges of only the first and third roller being in contact with the driving member and the second roller being driven by the first and third rollers. A drive belt passes between and in contact with reduced interior diameter of the first and second rollers and between and in contact with the reduced diameters of the second and third rollers and partially around the third roller and exiting the mechanism.

Abstract: A bicycle sprocket wheel comprises a toothed outer annular member molded of a tough nylon plastic and a centrally disposed metal spider having a plurality of radial arms attached to the sides of the annular member to add structural rigidity thereto. The teeth of the annular member are formed with straight front and back faces and with sharp corners at the roots thereof. Such a construction reduces the cost of the mold used for molding the annular member since the cavity needed therein for the teeth can be simply machined by use of straight and circular cuts. The inner radial edge of the annular member is shaped by an insert in the mold to form sets of circumferentially spaced arcs, the arcs of each set having a common radius different from the other sets to accomodate spiders having arms of different radial lengths.

Abstract: The control system of the present disclosure is particularly designed for use in the bicycle which is so designed as to change gears upon shifting of a chain guiding mechanism. The control system includes a motor driven reel, a flexible wire connected between the reel and the chain guiding mechanism and a switch arrangement for controlling the rotation of the reel. Upon turning on of the switch arrangement, the motor is rotated by a predetermined amount to perform a suitable shifting operation of the chain to engage with a required gear.

Abstract: A link chain useful for transmission and conveyor purposes in which the links are interconnected by flexible strip members which accommodate relative angular movement of each link with respect to the strip members and links without need for pivot pins and without frictional movement between adjacent links.

Abstract: A speed change device comprises a stack of discs alternating with friction rings, the rings being disposed in a drum with which they are rotatable, the discs being rotatable with an input shaft extending into the drum. The stack is gripped between an abutment connected to the drum and a bell-shaped member fixed to an output shaft extending into the drum. The gripping is ensured by clamping means comprising elements having complementary conjugate surfaces and resilient means disposed between one of said elements and an axial abutment movable with the drum or bell-shaped member. The elements of the clamping means comprise a screw rotatable with the output shaft but axially movable therealong and a nut co-operating with the screw, the nut being rotatable with the drum but axially movable therealong.

Abstract: A belt-type speed change device having a pair of pulleys around which passes a belt. A side plate of each of the pulleys is axially movable relative to the other, fixed, side plate, thereby to provide for changes in transmission ratio. A rest position of the movable side plate of one of the pulleys, in embodiments described the driven pulley, is defined by a first abutment. The first abutment is movable between an operative position in which it is engageable by the movable side plate to define the rest position of the movable side plate and a retracted position in which the first abutment permits further axial movement of the movable side plate away from the fixed side plate to a retracted position as defined by a second or stop abutment, thereby to permit removal of the belt from the pulleys.

Abstract: A speed change pulley has a fixed side plate and a movable side plate, with resilient means urging the movable side plate towards the fixed side plate, to vary the width of a belt-receiving V groove therebetween. The resilient means comprises a resilient diaphragm engaged with the movable side plate by at least one engagement member which is formed separately from the diaphragm and suitably mounted thereon, and engaged in a complementary opening at the periphery of the movable side plate.

Abstract: A derailleur for a bicycle, which comprises a base member, a movable member and two linkage members carrying the movable member therewith in the relation of being swingingly movable with respect to the base member, a control member swinging independently from the movable member, a pair of plates for energy-storing, which sandwich therebetween one of the linkage members and cooperate with the control member through an engageable projection thereof and a positioning and maintaining member provided between the control member and one of the base member, movable member and two linkage members for positioning the driving chain guide cages with respect to any one of a plurality of sprockets whereby the speed change stage can preliminarily be selected when the bicycle is at a standstill or while running when not pedalling.

Abstract: A variable speed drive for a riding lawn mower or the like has a double pulley variable speed sheave assembly coupled between a driving pulley and a driven pulley by first and second V-belts, respectively. A mechanical control linkage is operable to shift the sheave assembly along the cam profile of a cam arm from a stopped position with both belts declutched to a range of low to high speed positions with the belts drivingly engaged. Said control linkage is springably biased to urge the sheave assembly toward the stopped position. The cam arm is also springably biased generally away from the driving and driven pulleys to maintain the belts under driving tension throughout the range of low to high speed positions in a manner such that belt tension varies with variations in operating speed.

Abstract: An endless power transmission belt having a trapezoidal cross-section comprising a belt body, two cord fabric cover layers, and a layer of woven fabric located between said belt body and said cord fabric cover layers; said cord fabric comprising strength cords extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the belt, and weak tie strands holding said strength cords in parallel position, the strength cords of one cord fabric cover layer extending at substantially opposite angles to the strength cords of the other cord fabric cover layer.

Abstract: A power transmission drive comprising driving and driven sprockets interconnected by a chain consisting of interlaced ranks of links having projecting toes to engage the walls of the sprocket teeth and articulated by two-part pivots disposed transversely through aligned apertures in the links, the cross-section of each pivot part being similar and generally equilateral about axes 120.degree. apart and the apertures being elongated in the direction of the link length. The pivot parts comprise a pin and a rocker each of which has three convex and three concave surfaces which alternate and are joined with one another. A convex surface of the pin and rocker meet in rocking engagement with one another.

Abstract: A chain includes a plurality of links, a plurality of pins and bushings for pivotally coupling the links together in cooperating pairs, a replaceable cover embracingly connected to each bushing for protecting the bushings external surface from wear, and a plurality of retaining elements individually on the links or on the bushings for anchoring each of the covers on the respective bushing.

Abstract: A finite range infinitely variable gear ratio chain drive system incorporates a drive sprocket assembly having a plurality of radially displaceable sprocket gears. Each of the sprocket gears is mounted upon a shaft extending intermediate two spaced apart plates. Each shaft has a unique degree of radial displacement and twist intermediate the plates which are, respectively, commensurate with the finite range of effective diametric excursion and resulting change in effective circumference of the drive sprocket assembly. The effective diameter of the drive sprocket assembly is variable by translating the drive sprocket intermediate the fixed plates and forcing the sprocket gears to extend to contract radially along their respective shafts.

Abstract: An inexpensive, lightweight, hybrid transmission is provided in which a high speed rotating-input sun member drives at least two rows of rollers including a first row of intermediate circumferentially positioned rollers by way of a pure friction drive contact. The first intermediate row similarly drives a second row of circumferentially mounted rollers via a pure friction drive contact. The second or subsequent row rollers are mounted on fixed axes by straddle bearings and the individual support shafts thereof are provided with small diameter output gears with positive teeth for cooperation with a toothed output ring or output bull gear. The system provides quiet and efficient force transfer through the friction drive surfaces and, at the same time, provides high torque transmission through the relatively slowly rotating positive drive gears.

Abstract: A friction transmission comprising a driving member and a driven member mounted for rotation about a common axis. The members having oppositely facing annular arcuate surfaces and at least one roller contacts said surfaces. The roller is supported in the roller carrier by resilient means with the axis thereof intersecting the common axis of said members. The periphery of the roller has a generally conical configuration. The annular surfaces of the driving and driven members have a configuration such that lines tangent to the periphery of the roller and the races converge at the intersection of the axes of rotation of the roller and the common axis of the members at all positions of the roller giving a true rolling action in the manner of cones with a common apex. Hydraulic means apply a force to the roller in the direction of the roller axis proportional to the driving load. The roller and roller carrier are supported by a trunnion which is in turn supported by opposed resilient means.

Abstract: A drive belt loading system for automatically loading and unloading a drive belt onto a pulley of a removable device employs a conical transfer means for automatically transferring the drive belt to the pulley upon tensioning of the belt. The transfer means is located below the device pulley so that upon slackening of the belt, the belt is automatically unloaded by dropping back onto the transfer means to allow removal of the device. The system is applied to drive belt loading in a magnetic disk file employing a disk module with an external pulley.

Abstract: A noiseless ratchet drive mechanism comprises one first element with a band shell for cylindrical friction drive engagement fixed on each side. Adjacent to this first element on each side disposed a second element coaxial with the first on a shaft. This second element consists of a disc member with a plurality of integral links, and each link is connected with a second link with its one end passing through a hole in a band ring which forms the rim of the second element. To the second link is fixed an arced brake which engages the inside of the shell for friction engagement with the first element. The turning of the second element in one direction engages the first element in friction drive while the turning of the second element in the opposite direction disengages the friction engagement.

Abstract: A snap-on wear pad is adapted to be used on conveyor chains. The wear pad includes a resilient, generally cylindrical body portion of a length adapted to fit between the opposite inner side bars of a conveyor chain. The body portion has an axial through hole and an axial entrance slot communicating with the through hole from the outer surface of the body, whereby the body can be snapped onto and resiliently held around the chain roller, bushing, or pin. The wear surface comprises an integral tab portion on the surface of the body opposite the entrance slot, providing an abrasive-resistant sliding surface and means to prevent rotation of the wear pad about the chain roller, bushing, or pin. An alternate construction comprises a composite two-piece wear pad assembly in which identical wear pad halves are similarly snapped onto the chain roller, bushing, or pin from opposite sides to provide a wear surface for both sides of the chain.